Industrial Reliability and Repair and Mechanical Specialties Inc.

2307 Mercantile Dr., Leland

 
No. of local employees: 30 

Year founded: 2004

Top local official(s): Karen Barefoot, director of sales and marketing; Jimmy Palmer, MSI NC business unit manager; and Chad Bracken, IRR NC business operations

Company description: “We are a precision machine shop supporting the heavy industrial market both on- and off-site.”

Products made locally: Contractor for machining, construction, maintenance and turnaround services in the United States. Core competencies include custom machining and fabrication services, repair of process pumps and industrial gearboxes, specialty welding, structural, piping, process equipment setting and rigging.

Product distribution: “IRR/MSI has five service branch locations and two sales offices. We currently have 167 core employees and 150 support employees. Locally, we are located in the Leland Industrial Park.”

What made the company decide to make its goods locally? Barefoot: “Besides the obvious reason of joining the amazing beachside communities of the greater Wilmington area, Wilmington is also a strategic location because of the extensive industrial base of companies and available workforce.”

What’s your target market? Barefoot: “Mostly we support chemical, pulp and paper, food and beverage, power, oil and gas and automotive markets. With that being said, we also try to support any and all local businesses.”

What’s next? Barefoot: “While continuing to support our local community, we plan on expanding into new markets and adding over 100 employees over the next four years.”